Two arrested in motel meth bust

January 23, 2014

Staff report

A man and woman are in jail after officers with the Rockingham Police Department busted up a meth lab being operated out of a local motel.

Thomas Leslie Snead, 40, and Stephanie Dawn Guinn, 39, were arrested Jan. 15 and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling, conspiring to sell methamphetamine and other misdemeanor charges stemming from running a meth lab out of Regal Inn on West Broad Avenue. Snead was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

It’s the first reported meth lab bust in Richmond County in 2014. Last year, there were 561 such labs taken out of operation by law enforcement across North Carolina — including 13 in Richmond County.

When investigators went to Room 145 and knocked, the occupants opened the door and officers found, in plain sight, bagged methamphetamine. A search warrant was obtained and executed on the room and both Snead and Guinn were taken into custody. Both subjects listed the motel room as their current address.

The Rockingham Fire Department, Richmond County Health Department and North Carolina S.B.I. responded to the scene. Both suspects were transported to FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital for observation after they were decontaminated at the scene. The S.B.I. also sent its Clandestine Laboratory Response Team to safely remove any hazardous materials associated with the production of methamphetamine.

Snead is being held in the Richmond County Jail on an $82,000 secure bond and Guinn is being held in jail on a $50,000 secure bond. Their first court appearance is set for Jan. 30.